The ManKind Podcast

Hosted by ManKind Project USA

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Episodes

265

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The ManKind Podcast is a space where modern masculinity gets redefined by real men doing real work. In a world full of outdated blueprints and noisy stereotypes, hosts Brandon Clift and Boysen Hodgson unpack what it means to be a man today with humor, honesty, and heart. This isn’t about telling you WHO to be. It’s about helping you pick up the pen and write your own story of manhood. Whether we’re breaking down leadership blind spots, sharing the messiness of personal growth, or talking to mission-driven authors and change-makers, this show offers tools, stories, and soulful conversations to help you show up as the man you're destined to become! If you’re ready to stop performing and start becoming, tune in. We’re here for the messy, meaningful, and often hilarious journey of becoming the kind of man and human you actually want to be. Created by the ManKind Project USA . Hosted by Brandon Clift & Boysen Hodgson .

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60 recent

August 18, 2026Episode 26341 min

263 - What It Actually Takes to Build Brotherhood and Leave Isolation with Nick Papadopoulos & Jake Fishbein

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Most men have zero foxhole buddies. Not because they don't want them — but because they keep choosing comfort over the risk of being truly known. Nick Papadopoulos has spent 23 years building men's groups, and Jake Fishbein has spent the last decade inside them. Together they've written a novel about what it actually looks like when men stop spectating and enter the arena. It became an Amazon bestseller. This conversation is the unfiltered backstory. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why the "I'm too busy" excuse is almost always a lie men tell themselves — and what it's actually protecting What it means to be a foxhole buddy versus a fair-weather friend, and how to build those relationships before the 3AM crisis call How the Arena Men's Group model identifies the exact moment a man is about to leave his own growth — and what to do about it Why being in a men's group on Monday doesn't mean you're in the arena on Tuesday — the real measure of the work What Nick's 50-year friendship taught him about how deep a single conversation can go when men finally get honest Why the work you do in a men's circle doesn't stop at you — and why your wife is probably your men's group's biggest fan Grab the book, find your foxhole, and stop being a spectator in your own life. Resources Mentioned: The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships by Nick Papadopoulos & Jake Fishbein — https://a.co/d/0051GHKs (also available at bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Target) Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

August 9, 2026Episode 26257 min

262 - Why Intentional Fathering Is How We Heal the Father Wound with Ian and John

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). There's a wound most men carry and rarely name: the father wound. In this episode, Boysen sits down with Ian Schwartz and John Harrington — co-founders of the Intentional Fathers Initiative — to talk about why intentional fathering isn't just good parenting advice, it's how generational wounds actually get healed. Ian and John build what they call "father-focused men's work" — spaces where men bring their real challenges as fathers into the container of men's work: naming the father wound directly, examining what was passed down, and choosing, on purpose, what to carry forward and what to leave behind. They talk about violence in its many forms, including the quiet kind — a father who's present in body but absent everywhere that matters. They break down the four pillars of men's work (accountability, integrity, vulnerability, authenticity) applied to fatherhood, and make the case that self-care isn't optional — it's what makes healing possible at all. If you're carrying a father wound, raising kids of your own, or both — this conversation offers a real path forward, not just a reframe. Learn more about their work at the Intentional Fathers Initiative Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

August 1, 2026Episode 26154 min

261 - Stop Meditating Alone: The Real Reason Most Men Quit - with Toby Sola

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Toby Sola has spent two decades teaching meditation — years of it inside a monastery, refined through close work with world-renowned teacher Shinzen Young. Today he runs Bright Mind, an app built on one guiding principle: as simple as possible, but no simpler. In this conversation, Toby and Boysen talk about what monastic life actually teaches you — not mystical secrets, but community and humility, the two things that turned out to matter most. They dig into why so many men try meditation once, get frustrated with their own "monkey mind," and never come back — and what's usually missing (hint: it's often not more discipline, it's community and structure). Toby walks through how Bright Mind is designed as a guided journey rather than a random library, so progress actually builds instead of resetting every time you open the app. The conversation goes deep into the parts of practice nobody warns you about: the doubt that shows up right when things start to open up, the strange sense of space and time dissolving, and the nihilism that can surface when you get quiet enough to really look. Toby's take is grounded and useful — sometimes the answer isn't more meditation, it's fixing something in your actual life: a relationship, a career decision, a worldview you're ready to let go of. Whether you've never meditated or you've been sitting for years, this episode offers a clear, unpretentious map for a practice that's often made either too complicated or too watered down to matter. Go to the Brightmind App - https://www.brightmind.com/ Use Code MKP to get a free month! Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

July 22, 2026Episode 26055 min

260 - Barrier Free: What Every Man Needs to Learn About Belonging - Panel Talk

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). The strongest communities aren't built by treating everyone the same—they're built by making sure everyone belongs. In this heartfelt and often humorous conversation, Boysen Hodgson sits down with leaders of the ManKind Project's Barrier Free Movement to explore what authentic inclusion really looks like. FULL TRANSCRIPT Available HERE . Art Patterson, Dee Spitler, Mike Merino, Paul Jerde, Craig Tennant, and Marc Sage share deeply personal stories about disability, neurodivergence, recovery, leadership, and the transformative power of being fully seen. Together they discuss: Why accessibility is about belonging—not accommodation How slowing down creates deeper connection The importance of asking instead of assuming Invisible disabilities and neurodivergence in men's work Building trust with men who have learned to expect exclusion Why every man is only "temporarily able" How humor, vulnerability, and honest conversation create true brotherhood Whether you're involved in men's work or simply want to become a more compassionate leader, this episode offers practical wisdom about creating spaces where everyone can show up exactly as they are. Learn more: https://barrierfree.mkpusa.org/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

July 4, 2026Episode 25946 min

259 - Remember Who You Are: Healing Men Through Nature and Brotherhood with CJ Goulding

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). What if healing doesn't begin by becoming someone new—but by remembering who you've always been? In this episode of the ManKind Podcast, Boysen sits down with CJ Goulding, co-founder of Boys in the Wood, an organization using nature, brotherhood, and community to support the mental health and wellbeing of Black men. CJ shares the personal story that led him from outdoor education to creating transformative retreats where men reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world. Together they explore how vulnerability grows in the right environment, why community is essential to healing, and how challenging outdated stories of masculinity opens the door to a more connected and courageous life. They also discuss the role of nature in emotional wellbeing, the importance of mutual aid and collective care, the power of authentic leadership, and why sharing power doesn't diminish us—it multiplies what becomes possible. Whether you're looking for deeper brotherhood, healthier masculinity, or simply a reminder that you don't have to carry everything alone, this conversation offers both hope and practical wisdom. In this episode you'll hear: • Why nature helps men reconnect with themselves • The story behind Boys in the Wood • How vulnerability becomes possible inside trusted communities • Why "remember who you are" is more than a metaphor • The surprising ways joy shows up when men feel safe • How healing one man strengthens an entire community • Why power grows when it's shared Learn more about Boyz n the Wood - https://www.boyznthewood.org/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

June 23, 2026Episode 25857 min

258 - The 3 Things Destroying Male Sexuality in 2026 — and What to Do About It with Taylor Johnson

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Men's sexuality is under siege from every direction — algorithmic porn, AI girlfriends engineered to extract money by never actually satisfying you, and a culture that hasn't given men a single useful framework for talking about any of it. Taylor Johnson has spent seven years in the field helping men overcome sexual dysfunction, anxiety, and disconnection. What he's seeing in 2026 is unlike anything from even two years ago. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why short-form video and constant digital stimulation are measurably destroying men's capacity to be present during sex How AI girlfriend apps are deliberately designed to hook men in a cycle of wanting without ever delivering — and what that does to a teenage brain Why women still deeply want connection and great sex with men, even in the current cultural climate The exact approach to opening a conversation with your partner about sex, safety, and the headlines that are affecting both of you How to recognize when you've hit your capacity in a hard conversation and what to do instead of going off the rails Why sexual leadership has nothing to do with dominance and everything to do with attunement, safety, and showing up prepared If you've been avoiding this conversation — with yourself or your partner — this is the episode that ends that. Resources Mentioned: Taylor Johnson — Sex Coach for Men — https://www.taylorjohnson.life (search: Taylor Johnson sex educator) ManKind Project — https://mankindproject.org CoGenerate (intergenerational collaboration) — https://cogenerate.org Taylor's Sexual Leadership Retreat for Men (July 2026) — contact via Taylor's website Taylor's Sexual Menu Worksheet — available through Taylor's programs Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

June 16, 2026Episode 25756 min

257 - Respect Is NOT What You Think It Is with Dr. Julie Pham

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). What if most conflicts about respect aren't actually about respect? In this fascinating conversation, Boysen sits down with historian, researcher, TEDx speaker, and author Dr. Julie Pham to explore one of the most misunderstood words in our culture: respect . Most of us assume we know what respect means. We ask for it. We expect it. We feel hurt when we don't receive it. But Dr. Pham's research suggests something surprising: while people generally agree on how respect feels, they often disagree dramatically on what respectful behavior actually looks like. Drawing from her bestselling book, The 7 Forms of Respect , Julie introduces a practical framework for understanding why misunderstandings happen at work, at home, in friendships, and in communities. She explains how our experiences, culture, family systems, and generational influences shape our expectations—and why curiosity may be the missing ingredient in so many difficult conversations. Together, Boysen and Julie explore: The seven forms of respect and how they show up in everyday life Why respect is dynamic, subjective, and often contradictory The "Rubber Band Rule" and understanding our personal breaking points How hierarchy, power, and context influence our expectations What men can learn about respect, communication, and curiosity Why organizations struggle when they never define what respect means The relationship between respect, belonging, and mattering How curiosity creates connection across differences This conversation offers a fresh lens on relationships, leadership, and community—and a practical way to navigate conflict with greater understanding. If you've ever said, "I just want to be respected," this episode may completely change what that means. Find Julie Pham - https://curiositybased.com Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

June 9, 2026Episode 25652 min

256 - The 90-Day Practice That Turns Comfort-Addicted Men Into Men With Agency with Dane Sanders

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Most men wait for hardship to teach them resilience. Dane Sanders watched his best friend Tim Kruger — an Ironman triathlete — die of stomach cancer at 50. Tim's parting insight: "I'm really glad I practiced voluntary discomfort before involuntary discomfort chose me." That single line became the foundation of everything Dane has built since. This is a conversation about mortality, meaning, and why choosing the hard thing is actually the smartest move any man can make. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why the world's default setting is hardship — not comfort — and what changes when you stop treating difficulty as an anomaly How Tim Kruger's death reshaped Dane's entire understanding of what it means to live fully, not just survive well The difference between fitting in and belonging — and why one builds agency while the other quietly hollows you out What happens inside the Men and Women of Discomfort 90-day program and why people crash out over creamer in their coffee How "microdosing discomfort" prepares you for the storms you can't predict, control, or negotiate out of Why Anthony DeMello's warning about sleepwalking through life is the most important thing men aren't taking seriously If you've been waiting for a reason to stop playing it safe, this is the episode. Resources Mentioned: Men and Women of Discomfort (MWOD) — https://mwod.io The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch — https://www.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-Randy-Pausch/dp/1401323251 Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom — https://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Mitch-Albom/dp/076790592X Anthony de Mello, "Awareness" — https://www.amazon.com/Awareness-Opportunities-Inner-Anthony-Mello/dp/0385249373 Ben Sasse — 60 Minutes interview (terminal brain cancer) — search "Ben Sasse 60 Minutes 2024" CrossFit — https://www.crossfit.com Annie (93-year-old CrossFit member, Auburn CrossFit) — featured in CrossFit HQ documentary Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

June 2, 2026Episode 25558 min

255 - This Is Your Calling To Become A Mentor - Why The Next Generation of Boys & Men Need You with Jordan Bowman

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Young men are drowning, and the algorithm is doing it on purpose. Within 17 seconds on YouTube, three-quarters of a young man's suggested content steers him straight into the manosphere. Meanwhile, the men who've actually done the inner work are sitting on the sidelines. Jordan Bowman isn't waiting for a viral moment to fix it. He's been in the field for over a decade building something that actually works. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why mentorship is your civic duty — and why it matters more than voting or paying taxes The simple first step any man can take today to connect with a young person already in his life How to show up as a mentor without giving unsolicited advice or projecting your own experience onto him Why "presence over perfection" is the only qualification you actually need to get started The Frodo-to-Gandalf arc: how to transition from hero of your own story to guide for the next generation What Jordan's father did when he was 14 that changed the entire trajectory of his life — and how you can recreate it for the boys in yours If this conversation fires something up in you, don't sit on it. Find the most accessible way into mentorship and go give your gifts. Resources Mentioned: Journeyman Triangle — https://journeymantriangle.org CoGenerate (intergenerational collaboration resources) — https://cogenerate.org American Institute for Boys and Men, Richard Reeves — https://aibm.org Boys to Men Mentoring Network — https://boystomen.org Movember Foundation — https://movember.com Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice — https://equimundo.org Michael Mead, mythologist and author — https://mosaicvoices.org ManKind Project — https://mankindproject.org Next Gen Men — https://nextgenmen.ca Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

May 25, 2026Episode 2541 hr 3 min

254 - Memorial Day Special: Veterans’ Stories of Sacrifice, Survival, and Remembrance

Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). How do veterans grapple with the emotional weight of Memorial Day? Join us for a deeply moving Memorial Day episode of the Mankind Podcast, where we revisit a conversation from our Masks Off Monday series. Featuring a heartfelt panel discussion with five veterans, including Dean Ray, a former Marine Corps helicopter crew chief, who shares a poignant piece he wrote. This episode dives into their personal stories of loss, survival, and the importance of keeping the memories of their fallen comrades alive. From the harrowing experiences of deployment to the unyielding bonds forged in the battlefield, our veterans offer an unfiltered glimpse into their lives. Hear the raw emotions tied to events such as funerals, helicopter crashes, and the impact of IEDs. Learn how communal respect and acts of kindness play crucial roles in honoring their sacrifices and providing solace to those left behind. This episode also explores how staying connected with loved ones evolves over time and the heavy burden of survivor's guilt. This episode is a profound tribute to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to carry the scars of their service. Discover how civilians can support veterans, honor their sacrifices, and embody the admirable traits of those we've lost. Whether you're a veteran, a family member, or someone eager to understand and support those who have served, this conversation offers invaluable insights and a heartfelt tribute to our heroes. Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show